What A Difference A Day Makes: One Day Reuse & Recycling Events

What is Zero Waste Day?

• Drive Thru Donating!• One Stop Reverse Shopping• 3-4 hour, one day (Sat.), outdoor event• 8-12 participating non-profit organizations• Electronics and paper recycling available• Parking lot location• Rain or Shine• Staffed by volunteers• Well publicized

Organizations Represented

• Minimum of two that accept furniture• Three-four that accept clothing and

household goods• Two-three that accept baby supplies• One that accepts building materials• One that accepts

pet/animal supplies• One for electronics

recycling (fee)

Site Specifications

• Long driveway to allow for a queue

• Wide parking lot to accommodate charity vehicles: box trucks and tractor trailers

• Two lanes for donor vehicles: drop-offand passing lane

• No other eventsscheduled on site

• Access to bathrooms

Zero Waste Day Promotion

• ZWD Website• Posters• Flyers• Facebook Group• Facebook Event• Patch• On-line Calendars• Press Releases• Sign Support• Lawn Signs

• Banners• Town Website• Town Sign• Cable Access• Local Affiliate TV• ZWD Ambassadors• Business Sponsorship• Non-profit websites/FB• Church newsletters• Construction Associations

Volunteer SupportBefore ZWD

• Webmaster• Collateral designer• Publicity• Site management• Flyer/poster distribution• Local business liaison• ZWD ambassadors

During ZWD• Set-up and clean-up• Welcome wagon• Traffic control• Car unloaders• On-site nurse• Event photographer• Non-profit volunteers• Snack bar

Zero Waste Day Costs

Purchased or Donated?• Poster printing• Flyer photocopying• Signage• Tchotchkes• Web hosting• Printing/mailing• Food/beverages

Sample Results ~ Tewksbury, 2010• Cars: Just over 400, with 40 representing other towns

• Pounds of Electronics Recycling: 9,275 lbs.

• Bikes (for Bikes Not Bombs): 73

• Household Goods and Clothing: - 3 box trucks FULL for Wish Project of Lowell - 1 box truck FULL for Lazarus House Ministries - 1 box truck FULL for Big Brother/Big Sister Association - 6 vans FULL for Project Home Again

• Baby Supplies and Children’s Clothing: - 1 box truck FULL for Community Giving Tree

• Building Supplies for Boston Building Materials Res. Ctr: ½ box truck

• Animal Supplies: - 2 SUVs FULL for Nevin’s Farm, MSPCA Shelter - 2 SUVs FULL for Lowell Humane Society

• Books and Videos: Filled one Got Books bin

• Follow-up Event: Very successful Used Toy Drive, benefitting Community Giving Tree, held on 10/23/10, at Tewksbury Congregational Church

Lessons Learned

• Commitment letter to participating charities• Parking lot diagram and staging• Volunteer support:

- supervision of youth volunteers - training/orientation and skill match - manageable numbers (not too many)

• Delegation through Team Captains• Event photographer (wish list of photos)• No leftovers! hot potato concept

Plan Your Own Zero Waste Day

Website Includes:• 6 month planning

calendar/checklist• Templates and

sample documents• Listings of local non-

profit organizations• Business & volunteer

Wish Lists• Recycling resources• 2 minute video of

Tewksbury eventwww.tewksburycc.org/zerowasteday

For More Information

Beth McFadyenCo-Chair, Board of Ministries

Tewksbury Congregational Churchbmcfadyen@comcast.net

Loretta RyanChairperson

Tewksbury Recycling Committeemacnmad@comcast.net

www.tewksburycc.org/zerowasteday